Process for the continuous fluid-treatment of fabric webs



H. FLEISSNER PROCESS FOR THE CONTINUOUS FLUID-TREATMENT June 6, 1967 OFFABRI C WEBS Original Filed May 31. 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 HE/NZFLEISSNEP INVENTOR.

BY 9 )U Attorney June 6. 1967 H. FLEISSNER 3,323,153 PROCESS FOR THECONTINUOUS FLUID-TREATMENT OF FABRIC .WEBS Original Filed May 31, 1962 4Sheets-Sheet 2 :n o -q $2 75 7 5a 91 s 77 a 3 h 95 78 f .93 79 O YOZ 72IVE/NZ FLE/SSMET? IN VENTOR.

June 6. 1967 H. FLEISSNER PROCESS FOR THE CONTINUOUS FLUIl)--TREATMENTOF FABRIC WEBS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed May 31. 1962 FIG.

(Wfi WA 2% a J Attorney June 6, 1967 H. FLEISSNEF? PROCESS FOR THECONTINUOUS FLUID-TREATMENT OF FABRIC WEBS 4 Sheets-Sheet Original FiledMay 31, 1962 IN VENTOR.

HEINZ FLEISSNER \Aizmmey United States Patent 6 Claims. cl. s 149.3

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Process for the continuous fluid-treatment offabric webs (e.g. the treatment of fabrics with steam or the like forfixing dies etc.) whereby the fabric web 1s passed along at least twoperforated surfaces in a substant ally closed chamber and fluid is drawnthrough the webs 1n a first zone along one of said surfaces at arelatively high rate per unit quantity of the material treated and drawnthrough the web in a subsiding zone at a second surface at a relativelylow rate per unit quantity, at least a port on of the fluid drawnthrough the web at said first zone being heated and recirculated for asubsequent passage through the web.

This is a division of application Ser. No. 198,972, filed May 31, 1962,now US. Patent No. 3,242,702.

My present invention relates to a method of cont nuous treatment offabric Webs with fluids and, more particularly, the continuous treatmentof textiles with steam.

In the steaming of continuous webs of fibrous material such as textiles,autoclaves have been provided whereln a charge of the textlie fabric isintroduced into the vessel, which is sealed against the ambientatmosphere and filled with steam. Occasionally, the autoclave isevacuated prior to the introduction of the steam. This arrangement isintermittent in nature and requires a relatively large amount of timefor the charging and discharging of the autoclave.

In copending application Ser. No. 142,561, WhlCh I filed Oct. 3, 1961jointly with Wolfgang Friedel. I have CllS- closed apparatus for thecontinuous treatment of fibrous webs, i.e. the drying of such webs,wherein the webs are conveyed by perforated carriers, The devicesdisclosed in these applications are not, however, suitable in themselvesfor the treatment of webs or bands of material with steam or wethigh-temperature atmospheres, since large heat and pressure losses wouldinevitably result. Moreover, it is important to note in connection withthe steam treatment of textile fabrics, and especially the steam fixingof dyed materials, that condensation of liquid upon the material must beavoided. Thus, when working with saturated steam, it is vital that adyed material be heated as quickly as possible to avoid the condensationof moisture thereon and a consequent dilution or redistribution of thedyestuff thereon.

It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to

provide a process for treating webs of fibrous material with heatedfluids as well as an apparatus for carrying out this process.

This object is realized, according to the invention, by a processwherein the fibrous material, in the form of a band or web, is treatedwith steam circulated through the material at a relatively high rate sothat relatively small amounts of heat per unit volume or weight of thesteam is given up to the fibrous material. Upon each pass through thematerial the steam is reheated so that the difference between the lossof heat by the steam and its increase in heat is relatively small.Consequently, the temperature drop in the steam while it is in contactwith the material is minimal, thereby guaranteeing that no substantialprecipitation of moisture upon the web will take place. In a process ofthis type, it is possible to employ a fluid consisting almost of steamsince a superheating of the steam prior of its contact with the web isnot necessary. When the material to be treated is brought to thesaturation temperature, condensation thereon can no longer occur so thatit is possible to reduce the volume of steam passed through the web to aminimum.

By an increase in the temperature of the steam treatment above 100 C.,the duration of the treatment time can be substantially reduced. It hasbeen found, for example, that each 10 C. rise in the steam temperatureapproximately halves the required treatment time. Thus, if a treatmenttime of 30 minutes is required at a temperature of 100 C., only 15minutes is necessary at C. and about 7.5 minutes at C. To preventsuperheating of steam at the latter temperature I maintain the steam ata pressure of about two atmospheres since the saturation temperature ata pressure of two atmospheres is about 119.62 C. The temperature has, ofcourse, a maximum since each textile material to be treated is to somedegree temperature sensitive. Wool, for example, is particularlysensitive to temperatures in excess of 120 C.

The process of the present invention can be carried out in an apparatusfor continuously treating webs of fibrous material (e.g. porous textilesor the like) with a fluid at elevated temperatures; the system comprisesa pressure chamber containing conveyor means for transporting the webwhile the fluid is passed therethrough. As disclosed in said copendingapplication, the conveyor means may include preforated drums or conveyorbelts through which the fluid is drawn. The pressure chamber is formedwith relatively thick walls and is generally of cylindricalconfiguration so as to be able to withstand the high steam pressuresemployed. Other round configurations, e.g. spherical, may also beemployed. The perforated drums may be rotatable within the chamber aboutgenerally parallel axes arranged therein between the inlet and theoutlet of the chamber. Thus, the axes may lie along a common plane sothat the drums are oriented in a substantially straight row whereby theweb of material can alternately underand overshoot the drums along agenerally sinusoidal transport path.

Since, as previously mentioned, it is desirable to circulate, at leastinitially, the treating fluid through the web at a relatively high rateper unit quantity of material treated, I prefer to provide means forpassing a large quantity of treating fluid through each unit quantity ofthe web. Such means may include means for driving the successive drumsin such a way that a drum proximal to the inlet is displaced with aperipheral speed in excess of that of a drum distal from the inlet.Thus, if the rate at which the treating fluid is drawn through the drumsis substantially equal, the material conveyed by the first or proximaldrum will have less intense contact with the treating fluid than thematerial passing through a subsequent zone along the treatment path. Thevariation in peripheral speeds may be accomplished by rotating the drumswith different angular velocities or by providing them with differentdiameters. Moreover, it is possible to insure a higher rate of fluidflow per unit quantity of material processed in the first zone if thefirst drum is provided with openings whose total cross-section along thedrum periphery hugged by the web is in excess of that of a succeedingdrum.

It is also possible to arrange the fluid-displacement means so that,say, a larger quantity of fluid is drawn through the first drum thanthrough a succeeding drum. In each case it is preferable, when severaldrums are em-.

ployed, to effect a stepwise reduction in the rate at which the fiuidcontacts the material. It will be apparent, accordingly, that successivedrums may have successively reduced diameters while being driven with aconstant angular velocity; they also may have stepped drives forrotating them with successively reduced angular velocity; or they may beprovided with exhaust means for drawing the fluid therethrough havingcapacities successively smaller in a stepwise relationship. It is notnecessary that the material alternately overand undershoot the drumssince advantageous results can also be obtained if the web passes alongone side of the drum axis, say, along the upper side of each drum. Inthe former case alternate drums will rotate in opposite senses whereasin the latter case all the drums rotate in the same sense.

Yet another feature of the invention resides in the provision of meansfor introducing a first fluid into the preheating or first zone of thetransport path in order to raise the temperature of a web to thesaturation temperature of a condensable second fluid introduced at asucceeding zone. Hot air may, advantageously, be employed as the firstfluid, while steam serves as the second fluid. I have found that it isoften desirable to provide partition means between the zones in order toreduce the possibility that fluid in a first zone can enter another zonealong the path. In fact, when the pressure chamber is subdivided into anentry portion, which may constitute the preheating zone, an intermediateportion constituting the main steaming zone, and an exit portion, thepartition means may include movable members adapted to provide a quickclosure of each compartment in order to isolate it from the others.

When employing successive drums operating at progressively reducedperipheral speeds, the web gathers into a pleat-like configuration uponthe surface of the slower drum. I have found that, after an initialheating of the web, it is desirable to fold the web into accordionpleats for subsequent treatment by a fluid. Thus, a relatively largequantity of material can be slowly displaced while a treating fluid isdrawn therethrough.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of my presentinvention will become more readily apparent from the followingdescription, reference being made to the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic longitudinal crosssectional viewthrough an apparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 illustrating a modification of theapparatus;

FIG. 2A is an enlarged detail view of the shutters of FIG. 2 showing theactuation mechanism therefor;

FIG. 2B is a fragmental view of another installation similar to that ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 3 is an axial cross-sectional view showing still anothertextile-treating apparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 4 is a vieW taken generally along the line IV-IV of FIG. 3;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are views similar to FIG. 4 illustrating furthermodifications;

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view through still anotherapparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line X-X of FIG. 9; and

FIG. 9 is a bottom-plan view of the drums of the apparatus of FIG. 7.

In FIG. 1 of the drawing I show a treatment chamber 1 provided with twoperforated drums 2 and 3 of the type generally disclosed in applicationSer. No. 142,561, filed Oct. 3, 1961. The drums 2 and 3 each have aperforated periphery and are rotated in opposite senses (arrows 54, 55)about their parallel axes by means to be described in greater detailhereinafter. A web 5 of flexible material, e.g. a textile band or otherfibrous ribbon, undershoots the first drum 2 while overshooting thesecond drum 3 along a generally sinusoidal transport path. A stationaryshield 56 blocks the perforations of drum 2 in that region of itsrotation wherein its periphery is not covered by the web 5' so that areduced suction force is needed to draw the treating fluid through thematerial. The suction force derives from a blower 57 of the type shownin the abovementioned copending application, which circulates steamthrough the web 5 past a heater 58 and also supplies part of the steamto the second drum 3 whose blower 59 draws same through the web 5 inthis region. The first drum 2 permits the material to be treated with arelatively large volume of steam per unit quantity of material since theblower 57 is a high-speed ventilator drawing the steam through inlet 60and expelling it via outlets 61 and 62. That portion of the steamrecirculated via outlet 62 through the web 5 in the region of thepreheating zone is reheated via heater 58 so that the small amount ofheat lost to the web 5 by the steam is restored to it. When thetemperature of the web has been raised to the saturation temperature ofthe steam within chamber 1 (e.g. about 120 C.), the web passes on todrum 3 whereupon steam is drawn through it at a reduced rate. Partitions63, 64 are provided between the drum 3 and an endless conveyor 6, whichis representative of conveying means in general and may, in fact, becomposed of a plurality of bands, to subdivide chamber 1 into arapid-heating compartment 1' and a slow-heating compartment 1". Sincethe duration of the steam treatment will depend upon the fabric treated,the dyestuft employed and other characteristics of the web, chamber 1"permits the web to remain in contact with the treating fluid for aprolonged period without inordinately increasing the size of theinstallation. Thus, I provide means for laying the Web 5 upon theconveyor band 6, which moves at a peripheral speed substantially lessthan that of drum 3 in the direction of arrow 7, in accordion pleats,loops or folds 5 which remain in contact with the steam withincompartment 1" for a relatively prolonged period.

The folding means comprises a plurality of angularly displaceabledampers 4, pivotable about axes relatively stationary with respect tothe drum and extending parallel to generatrices thereof. In a firstoperative position the jalousie-like dampers form an extension of theshield 65 of drum 3 to block perforations therein over a substantial arcof its periphery, thereby releasing a substantial length of material andpermitting it to fold along guide plate 66 onto conveyor belt 6. In asecond operative position of the dampers 4, the perforations areunblocked and the fluid sucked into drum 3 draws the web thereagainst sothat it is entrained until it again is released as a fold. The dampers 4are provided with arms 67 pivotally connected to a rod 68 of aperiodically operated solenoid 69. From the upwardly inclined portion 6'of conveyor belt 6 the folded web 5 is drawn between a pair of rollers8, 9, forming a fluid-retaining gate at the outlet 70 of the chamber.Rollers 8 and 9 are driven by a motor 71 with a peripheral speed inexcess of that of band 6 and, if desired, equal to that of drum 3, sothat the web 5 is again straightened as it leaves the apparatus.

In FIGS, 2 and 2A of the drawing I show an arrangement generally similarto that of FIG. 1 but with the treating apparatus arranged in a form ofa so-called J-box wherein the J-shaped chamber 1a is enclosed by apressure-retaining housing 72 wherein a perforated transport drum 2a isjournaled. The web 5a is fed into chamber 1a via afluid-.pressure-retaining lock 73 whose inlet opening is provided with apair of rollers 74, 75 between which the web is fed and which serve toprevent the escape of the fluid within lock 73 and chamber 1a.

The web then passes between another pair of rollers 76 at the inlet 77of chamber 1a whence it passes over the drum 2a. The latter rotates inthe direction of arrow 78 and has a blower (not shown) whose intake 79draws steam over heating tubes 80 through the web hugging the drum. Theoutlets 81, 82 of the blower return the treating fluid to the chamber1a. Drum 2a is provided with a stationary shield portion 83 which blocksthe apertures of the ineifective part of the drum. The remaining portionof the shield means is formed by an angularly offset array of dampers84, which are of a butterfly type, journaled for rotation about axesextending parallel to generatrices of the drum. The shafts 85 of thesedampers are provided with generally radial arms 86 which aresuccessively engaged by cams 87 (one of which can be seen in FIG. 2A)for successive actuation upon rotation of the drum 2a to open thedampers 84 and release that portion of the web 5a which is entrainedalong the drum in the region of the dampers.

Cams 87 are carried by the shaft 88.0f the drum 2a which is journaled onan axle 89 and driven by a sprocket wheel 90. The cams periodically openthe shutters 84, which are closed by springs 91, so that the web 5:: isalternately swung between the dot-dash position thereof and itssolid-line position to deposit successive folds of the web upon oneanother. It should be noted that the expression web, as used in thepresent application, i intended to designate sheet material as well asparallel arrays of ribbon or sliver and any other elongated flexibleelements which can be drawn against the perforated surface of theconveyor means. The folded Web 5a passes between a further drum 3a and aconveyor belt 6a, spaced therefrom, so that the folds are oriented ingenerally radial direction. The drum 3a and conveyor 6a are operatedwith identical angular velocity so that no shear stresses are applied bythem to the folds. The movable conveying means 3a, 6a completely obviatethe disadvantages of hitherto known J-box arrangements wherein rigidwalls are employed. While the blower of drum 3a, whose intake 92 drawsthe treating fluid through the relatively dense mass of material and theperforated conveyor band 6a from outlet 82, has substantially the samecapacity as the blower of drum 2a and likewise supplies the outlet 82,the more compact folds of the web limit the throughput of steam so thata reduced quantity of the latter is employed per unit quantity ofmaterial processed in the second stage.

A pair of outlet rollers 93 are arranged at the exit opening 94 and drawthe web 5a from the magazine formed by drum 3a and band 6a at arelatively high rate through another lock 95 and its rollers 96.

In FIG. 2B I show another arrangement wherein a drum 2b has its shield83b formed with a slidable shutter extension 84b, which is shiftable, asindicated in dotdash lines, by a solenod 69b via its arm 69b toper-iodically block and unblock the perforations of portions of theperiphery of drum 2b. The web 5b thus folds in loops onto the bars 200of a rotary loop dryer. Other wellknown dryer types may also beemployed. The solenoid (69b) is coupled with a timer 201 which blocksthe shutter 84b in its dot-dash position for a predetermined periodwhile drum 2b rotates so that a loop of any desired length may beformed.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a further embodiment of the invention whereinan autoclave 13 whose cylindrical casing 96 is bolted to outwardlyconvex terminal casing portions 97, 98 along their flanges 99, 100, hasan inlet 101 and an outlet 102 at opposite ends of the housing. Thematerial 105 is fed between a pair of rollers 15, 15a at the inlet ontothe lower surface of a first perforated drum 10 whence it passes ingenerally sinusoidal pattern alternately over and under the successivedrums 11 and 12. From drum 12 the web is displaced between another pairof rollers 17, 17a of the outlet opening 102. The drums 10, 11 and 12are jouranled upon a rear plate 103 forming a compartment 104. Thelatter houses the blowers 106, 107, 108 of these drums, the first two ofwhich are shown in detail in FIG. 4. Blower 107, for example, draws thesteam through its intake 109 after it has passed through the web 105 anddistributes it via a discharge opening 110 to the drums 10 and 12flanking it. Blowers 106, 108 of these drums expel steam 5 throughoutlets 111, 111' whence it can feed the central drum 11. As previouslymentioned, the quantity of air drawn through drum 10 is greater thanthat drawn through drum 11. Similarly drum 12 draws still less treatingfluid, per unit quantity of material, through the web hugging itsperiphery.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the drives for therotors of the blowers 1106, 107, 108 (e.g. the motor 20, belt or geartransmission 19 and rotor shaft 18 shown in FIG. 4) are operatedatprogressively reduced speeds. The periphery of drum 10 may be providedwith perforations having a larger total cross-sectional area than thoseof drums 11 and 12, or drum 10 may be rotated with a somewhat higherangular velocity than the other drums. Since rollers 15 and 15a, whichdisplace the web in the direction of arrow 14 into the chamber 13, aredriven at a peripheral speed somewhat in excess of that of drum 10, thematerial is deposited in a pleated conformation on the drums. Thisconformation is essentially maintained throughout the transport path ofthe web inasmuch as the other drums 11 and 12 operate at somewhat slowerspeeds. It should be noted that the inlet and outlet slots 101, 102shown are relatively narrow so that hardly any escape of steam, whichmay be introduced via a conduit 112, takes place. Locks such as thoseshown in FIG. 2 may, of course, also be provided at the inlet and outletends of the wind-tunnel shaped chamber 13.

In FIG. 5 I show another arrangement wherein drums 23, 24, 25, 26 withinpressure chamber 113 have driving sprockets 114, 115, 116, 117 ofsuccessively larger diameter around which passes a driving chain 118.The latter, displaced by a conventional motor not shown, rotates thedrums alternately in opposite senses and with progressively reducedangular velocity so that a result similar to that previously describedis attained. The fabric web 21 is fed in the direction of the arrow overan idler roller 22 between a pair of driven feed rollers 119 at therestricted inlet opening 120 of the installation. Rollers 119 operatewith a peripheral speed in excess of that of drum 23 so that thematerial is gathered into slight folds as it is laid unto the drums. Theterminal drum 26 carries web 21 to the outlet rollers 121 whence itpasses between another idler roller 122 and the conveyor belt 27 whichcarries the web away for further processing. It will be immediatelyapparent that one or more of the drums 23-26 can be replaced by conveyorbelts or other means having a closed perforated transport surface. As inFIGS. 3 and 4, the unused portions of drums 23-26 are covered by shields123-126 while only the intakes 127-130 of the associated blowers areshown. The blowers may be positioned behind the plate 131 or at the baseof chamber 113.

The apparatus of FIG. 6 has its treatment chamber subdivided into apreheating or first heating compartment 28, whose walls are ofcylindrical configuration like those of the chamber 13 in FIGS. 3 and 4so as to withstand the steam pressure (e.g. two atmospheres)therewithin, and a main treatment compartment 36 in which the material31a remains for a prolonged period in contact with the treating fluid atreduced pressure (e.g one atmosphere). The web 31:: passes over an idler132 and between two feed rollers 133, of the character previouslydescribed, onto the primary drum 29 which conveys it at a relativelyhigh peripheral speed onto a succeeding drum 30 operating at somewhatlower speed. Thus the steam introduced into the pressure compartment 28via conduit 134 is drawn through the web into drum 29 at a relativelyhigh rate per unit quantity of material processed while drum 30 drawsthe steam through the web at a relatively lower rate per unit quantityof material processed.

The steam is circulated and heated by fluid-displacement means of thetype previously described and shown in the aforementioned copendingapplication. From compartment 28 the web 31a passes between a pair ofrollers 135 which deposit it in slight pleats upon the first of aplurality of stacked conveyor belts 31-34 which are somewhat staggeredto permit a continuous flow of the material downwardly and out of thelower compartment 36 in the direction of arrow 35. Again the outlet 136of this compartment is provided with rollers 137 which prevent theinflux of air. It will be understood that other arrangements of the highpressure and low pressure compartments may also be suitable. Forinstance, the high-pressure and low-pressure compartments may bedisposed side by side or one below the other as desired. Moreover, thedrums 29 and may be oriented for rotation about axes extendingcodirectionally with the axis of the cylindrical casing.

In FIGS. 7-9 of the drawing, I show a modified arrangement of a lineararray of drums for the fluid treatment of a web 160. The installationcomprises a cylindrical housing 161 whose inlet 162 is provided with apair of rollers 163 which feed the Web 160 onto the first drum 164 of aplurality of drums. Hot air is fed into a first compartment 165,containing the drum 164, which is delimited by a pair of movablepartitions 166, 167, slidable in a channel 168 to separate compartment165 from the steam treatment compartment 169, 170. The hot air isintroduced via a conduit 171 and is drawn by a pair of high-capacityblowers, whose intakes may be seen at 172, 173, through the web carriedby the array of angularly spaced slats 274 forming the perforatedperiphery of drum 164. A stationary shield 175 blocks the slots of theunused portion of the drum periphery.

As indicated in FIG. 8, each ventilator or blower of drum 164 (one ofwhich is indicated at 176) is driven by a motor 177 via a transmission178 to expel the hot air through a vent 179.

The web 160 passes along the upper side of drum 164 and thence onto theupper sides of drums 180, 181 in succession. Drums 180 and 181 arelocated within compartments 169 and 170, respectively, and serve totreat the web 160 with steam. Drum 180 is provided with two relativelysmall blowers whose intakes 172, 173 draw steam, introduced via nozzles174, through the web and the perforations in the drum. The nozzles 174are adjustably mounted in slots 174' and may be shifted toward or awayfrom the Web.

Drum 181 is separated from drum 180 by a pair of movable partitions 184,185 vertically slidable in a channel 186, and is provided with a singleblower with an intake port 187 which draws the steam blown intocompartment 170 by the blower of drum 180, through the web. From drum181, the web 160 passes between a pair of rollers 188 through the exitopening 189 of the casing 161. Compartments 165, 169 and 170 constitutean intake portion, an intermediate portion and an exit portion of thepressure chamber which can be quickly closed off by the slidingpartitions 166, 167 and 184, 185.

Drums 164, 180 and 181 are provided with respective driving sprockets190, 191, 192 which are engaged by a chain 193 driven by motor 194.Since the drum-s carry the web 160 along their upper surfaces, they aredriven in the same sense as is apparent from FIG. 7. Moreover, the drums164, 180 and 181 are of progressively decreasing diameter while theirsprockets 190, 191 and 192 are of the same diameter so that the drumproximal to the inlet operates with a higher peripheral speed than thesuccessively arranged drums. The peripheral speed of the drums isreduced in stepwise fashion between the inlet and the outlet althoughthey are all driven at the same angular velocity.

In FIG. 9 I show the drums 164, and 181 to be provided with apertures orperforations of successively decreasing cross-sectional area. Thus, eachslot 274 between the slats 195 of drum 164 has a greater cross-sectionalarea than does the longitudinal row of openings 196 in the periphery ofdrum 180. The cross-sectional area of the openings of the latter row is,in turn, greater than the corresponding row of openings 197 in drum 181.Consequently, the throughput of treating fluid drawn into the drums 164,180 and 181 is reduced progressively from drum to drum. If desired,shields 175, 198 and 199 of the drums may be dispensed with and the web160 returned along the undersides of the drums, as indicated by dotdashlines, to the inlet opening.

Theinvention as described and illustrated is believed to admit of manymodification within the ability of persons skilled in the art, suchmodifications being deemed included within the spirit and scope of theappended claims.

I claim:

1. A method of treating a web of flexible textile mate rial with atleast one treatment fluid, comprising the steps of:

(a) continuously conveying said web through a substantially closedchamber along at least one perforated surfaoe forming a transport pathhaving a plurality of successive zones;

(b) drawing said fluid through said web and said surface at a first ofsaid zones at a relatively high rate per unit quantity of the materialtreated; and

(c) subsequently passing said fluid through said web at a succeedingzone at a relatively low rate per unit quantity of said materialtreated.

2. The method defined in claim 1 wherein said web is at a lowertemperature than that of said fluid prior to passage through said firstzone, said method further comprising the steps of heating at least aportion of the fluid drawn through said Web in said first zone andpassing it again through said web.

3. The method defined in claim 1 wherein said fluid is steam and saidchamber is maintained at an elevated pressure at least in the region ofsaid first zone.

4. The method defined in claim 1 wherein said web is conveyed throughsaid succeeding zone at a rate of excess of its rate of displacementthrough said first zone in terms of the quantity of material treated perunit time.

5. The method defined in claim 1, further comprising the steps offolding said'material upon its passage through said succeeding zone.

6. The method defined in claim 1 wherein said web is displaced along aperforated surface in said succeeding zone, and said fluid is drawnthrough said web and said surface in said succeeding zone.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,670,262 5/ 1928 Kershaw.1,764,089 6/1930 Sibson et a1. 1,808,701 6/1931 Wigglesworth. 3,011,26612/1961 Fleis-sner.

FOREIGN PATENTS 148,881 11/1952 Australia.

IRVING BUNEVICH, Primary Examiner.

1. A METHOD OF TREATING A WEB OF FLEXIBLE TEXTILE MATE
 1. A METHOD OFTREATING A WEB OF FLEXIBLE TIXTILE MATERIAL WITH AT LEAST ONE TREATMENTFLUID, COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: (A) CONTINUOUSLY CONVEYING SAID WEBTHROUGH A SUBSTANTIALLY CLOSED CHAMBER ALONG AT LEAST ONE PERFORATEDSURFACE FORMING A TRANSPORT PATH HAVING A PLURALITY OF SUCCESSIVE ZONES;(B) DRAWING SAID FLUID THROUGH SAID WEB AND SAID SURFACE AT A FIRST OFSAID ZONES AT A RELATIVELY HIGH RATE PER UNIT QUANTITY OF THE MATERIALTREATED; AND PER UNIT QUNATITY OF THE MATERIAL TREATED: AND (C)SUBSEQUENTLY PASSING SID FLUID THROUGH SAID WEB AT (C) SUBSEQUENTLYPASSING SAID FLUID THROUGH SAID WEB AT A SUCCEEDING ZONE AT A RELATIVELYLOW RATE PER UNIT QUANTITY OF SAID MATERIAL TREATED.